Just as the first-ever Santiago Dining Week comes to a close this Sunday, the first edition of Lima Food Week will begin on Monday. Just like the Santiago version, Lima Food Week is being sponsored by Restorando, the online reservations platform that is taking hold across Latin America. Although this isn’t the first ‘restaurant week’ in Lima, with a sponsorship that spans several countries, it could easily become the best.

Although known by locals and tourists alike as one of the must-visit sectors of Bogotá, Zona G, otherwise known as Zona Gourmet, is at the center of a heated protest over a proposed pedestrian walkway. The new bill, being dubbed an “intervention,” was proposed by local mayor Mauricio Jaramillo, whose term ends later this year. At a cost of nearly $1.5 million US, the entire project would cover less than two blocks, and would add exponentially to the gridlock and noise problems that already plague the area.

Maria Claudia Eraso is a sommelier living in Lima, Peru. Originally from Mendoza, Argentina, she is the co-author of Dos Mujeres y Cientos de Vinos. Currently, she is the Director of Content for Almendariz News and Wine magazine and Vivanda magazine. Always eager to talk about wine, today she gives us some insight into the wines that are trending across Latin America.

[Patrick Hieger]

By Maria Claudia Eraso

Since the beginning of the 2000’s, the words “varietal” and “barrel” have become the talking points in the Latin wine market; wines appeared to be competing in a category that wasn’t legislated by a governing body, and hadn’t previously been explored by anyone. It was the category of the explosion of grapes, the exploration of aromatic descriptors of both the barrel and the grape. The most common questions were, How many months does it pass in a new barrel? How much aging did this wine have? What level of alcohol did it reach?

Lima continues to progress and revolutionize their dining scene, from high-end to very approachable. Taking advantage of the continued growth, chef and restaurateur Jaime Pesaque of Mayta, and chef Renato Peralto have combined their talents to present a one of kind Peruvian eatery, artisanal, and specialty food market called Peru Pa’Ti. It’s hard to miss the prominent, purple colored house, located at Armendariz 546 in Miraflores.